SCOTLAND. 271 



iargeand commodious, for the use of a family ; so that the high street 

 of Edinburgh, which is chiefly of hewn stone, broad, and well paved, 

 makes a grand appearance, especially as it rises a full mile in a direct 

 line and gradual ascent from the palace of Holyrood-house on the 

 east, and is terminated on the west by the rude majesty of its castle, 

 built upon a lofty rock, inaccessible on all sides, except where it joins 

 to the city. The castle not only overlooks the city, its environs, gar- 

 dens, the new town, and a fine rich neighbouring country, but com- 

 mands a most extensive prospect of the river Forth, the shipping, the 

 epposite coast of Fife, and even some hills at the distance ol 40 or 50 

 miles, which border upon the Highlands. This crowded population, 

 however, was so extremely inconvenient, that the English, who seldom 

 went further into the country, returned with the deepest impression 

 of Scotch nastiness, which became proverbial. The castle has some 

 good apartments, a tolerable train of artillery, and has not only a large 

 magazine of arm$ and ammunition, but contains the regalia, which 

 were deposited here under the most solemn legal instruments, enga- 

 ging that they sh6uld not be removed from thence. All that is known 

 at present of those regalia, is contained in the instrument which was 

 taken at the lime of their being deposited, where they are fully 

 described. 



Facing the castle, as has been already observed, at a mile's distance, 

 stands the abbey, or rather palace of Holyrood-house. The inner 

 quadrangle of this palace, begun by James V. and finished by Charles 

 1. is of magnificent modern architecture, built according to the plan 

 and under the direction of sir William Bruce, a Scotch gentleman of 

 family, and one of the greatest architects of that age. Round the 

 quadrangle runs an arcade, adorned with pilasters ; and the inside 

 contains magnificent apartments. Its long gallery contains figures, 

 some of -frhich are from portraits, but all of them painted by modern 

 artists, of the kings of Scotland down to the time of the revolution. 

 James VII. when duke of York, intended to have made great improve- 

 ments about this palace ; for at present nothing can be more uncom- 

 fortable than its situation, at the bottom of bleak, unimproved crags 

 and mountains, with scarcelv a single tree in its neighbourhood. 



The hospital, founded by George Herriot, goldsmith to James VL 

 commonly called Herriot's Work, stands to the south-west of the 

 castle, in a noble situation. It is the finest and most regular specimen 

 which Inigo Jones (who went to Scotland as architect to queen Anne, 

 wife of king James VI.) has left us of his Gothic manner, and far ex- 

 ceeding any thing of that kind to be seen in England. One Balcangu- 

 biile, a divine, whom Herriot left his executor, is said to have pre- 

 vailed upon Jones to admit some barbarous devices into the building, 

 particularly the windows, and to have insisted that the ornaments of 

 each should be somewhat different from those of the others. It is, 

 notwithstanding, upon the whole, a delightful fabric, and adorned 

 with gardens not inelegantly laid out. It was built for the maintenance 

 and education of poor children belonging to the citizens and tradesmen 

 of Edinburgh, and is under the direction of the city magis! rates. 



Among the other public edifices of Edinburgh, before the Revolu- 

 tion, was the college, which claims the privileges of an university, 

 founded by king James VI. and by him put under the direction of 

 the magistrates, who have the power of chancellor and vice-chancellor. 

 Little can he said of its buildings, which were calculated for the sober 

 Hlevary manners, of those days; they are, however, improvable, and- 



